They added they are not able to speculate on why there is a rise in the use of corrosive substances in crime.

The spokesperson said: ‘There may be instances of peer pressure and copycats. However, it is something we will come to understand very quickly during the course of our investigations into the incidents where it has been used to commit offences.

‘Our message is that we need members of the public and the community to help us. We need to know who is carrying it and who is using it so we can step in and intervene at the earliest possible moment.

Two men carried out five acid attacks in London (Picture: Twitter/sarah_cobbold)

‘We would ask people and parents to question why someone of a certain age is buying such a substance over the counter.